“Elissa!”
“Ernest!” Elissa’s face became rigid with tension, her gaze turning colder than arctic ice. “Do you even understand? From the moment you decided to marry Linda, everything between us died! We will never reconcile again! I refuse to accept becoming the person who destroys someone else’s marriage!”
Ernest protested desperately, “You’re not—”
“Exactly! I should never have been placed in this position!” Elissa met his gaze with unwavering defiance. “You forced me into becoming such a despicable person!”
“Elissa…”
“Mr. Flynn.” A nurse stepped through the doorway from outside, speaking in hushed, respectful tones. “Sorry to interrupt this moment… Mr. Holland’s surgery has been completed. I’m here to inform you that you can visit him now.”
“Alright, thank you,” Elissa responded quickly with gratitude, reaching up to disconnect the oxygen tube and pulling away the blanket as she struggled to rise.
The abrupt cessation of her oxygen supply, combined with her sudden movement, caused her breathing to become labored and difficult once again. Elissa grimaced in pain, clutching desperately at her chest while gasping frantically for air.
Ernest rushed to support her weakened form. “Take it slowly! You must be careful with your own health!”
He turned urgently toward the nurse and demanded, “Do you have a portable oxygen bag? Please bring one immediately!”
“We do! Just one moment!” The nurse rushed away with obvious urgency.
Elissa became increasingly restless, attempting to break free from Ernest’s protective grip.
“Don’t move!” Ernest’s dark eyes locked onto her with fierce intensity. “You wouldn’t want Addy to worry by witnessing you struggling to breathe, would you?”
Upon hearing those words, Elissa immediately ceased her struggling. As though she had completely surrendered to her fate, she closed her eyes in utter defeat. She realized that Hadley’s prophetic words had materialized into reality. She had been a step too late, and now there was no possible way for her to escape.
Hadley accompanied Eric after completing the medical examination, her head bowed low as she walked alongside him toward the waiting car.
? ?ν.
“I have to admit…” Eric observed her dejected mood and smiled with gentle teasing. “Seeing you like this makes me quite happy.”
Upon hearing that unexpected comment, Hadley snapped her head up abruptly, her eyes widening as she glared at him with indignation. She found it impossible to believe that he could still manage to smile under such dire circumstances.
“Look, I’m alright.” Eric quickly shifted his tone, speaking with sudden seriousness. “You don’t trust me, but surely you must trust the medical examination results?”
Indeed, the comprehensive results revealed no internal injuries whatsoever, only multiple soft tissue bruises scattered across his body. But Hadley’s concerns extended far beyond those physical injuries.
She frowned deeply, her troubled gaze dropping to the ground. “I’ve never witnessed Ernest displaying such volcanic anger.”
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